Hartford Mayor-Elect Luke Bronin Declares: 'Now The Real Work Starts'

Stephen Dunn

Newly elected Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin and his wife Sara are surrounded by, from left: Adam Cloud, city tresurer, and city council members, Glendowlyn Thames, Juliuo Concepcion, (hidden) Thomas Clarke II and John Gale.

Newly elected Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin and his wife Sara are surrounded by, from left: Adam Cloud, city tresurer, and city council members, Glendowlyn Thames, Juliuo Concepcion, (hidden) Thomas Clarke II and John Gale.

HARTFORD — Fresh off his victory in Hartford's mayoral race, Luke Bronin said he will face challenges "head on" and be accountable to the residents who elected him.

"You put your trust in us," he told supporters at Real Art Ways Tuesday night, "and your trust will be honored with an open door, open ears and with tireless hard work. Because now the real work starts.

"What's ahead will not be easy," Bronin said. "There will be times when you disagree with the decisions that we make. When a city faces the challenges that we face, there are no easy answers."

"There are no easy answers and change takes time," Bronin said after announcing his win. "But what this team has is a willingness to make tough choices and face our challenges head on, and to be held accountable. We have energy. …You will feel it in city hall.

Luke Bronin won the race for Hartford mayor Tuesday night, after deafeating five-year Incumbent Mayor Pedro Segarra in the September Democratic primary.

Luke Bronin won the race for Hartford mayor Tuesday night, after deafeating five-year Incumbent Mayor Pedro Segarra in the September Democratic primary.

"The challenges are big, but so is Hartford's promise, and so is Hartford's heart. … I can't wait to get to work."

Voters also elected nine city council members: Democrats John Gale, Julio Concepcion, Glendowlyn Thames, Thomas "TJ" Clarke II, James Sanchez and rJo Winch, and Working Families Party members Larry Deutsch, Cynthia Jennings and Wildaliz Bermudez.

Voters head to the polls to decide several key races across the state.

Incumbent city treasurer Adam Cloud won re-election, and Foye Smith won the probate judge seat, according to unofficial campaign results.

Cruz said he called Bronin around 9 p.m. Tuesday to concede.

"I congratulated him and I shared with him that I hope everything he promised to the people of Hartford, he comes through with it," Cruz said. "Our residents deserve it.

"The voters spoke," Cruz added. "I just hope the city unites, like I've been saying from the very beginning."

Cannon said he offered Bronin "any help I could give him" in his upcoming term.

"Luke has a daunting task ahead of him," said Cannon. "I wish him luck."

Smith said she doesn't think change will happen under Bronin's leadership.

"I don't think our community is going to benefit from this," she said. "I hope that it's best for the people of this city."

Bronin thanked Segarra for serving Hartford "with all of his heart."

"He showed his love for the city of Hartford when he so graciously called for unity six weeks ago," Bronin said.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, for whom Bronin used to work, said Tuesday that the residents of Hartford "have chosen well."

"People ask me what advice I have given Luke Bronin, and I've given him the advice that I've always tried to take," Malloy said as he stood next to Bronin to celebrate the victory. "My rule is to always hire people who are brighter than you. That's how I ended up with Luke Bronin working for me.

"He's the hardest working guy, he's bright, he believes in the future of Hartford."

As of 7:30 p.m., 9,349 people, or 19.1 percent of eligible voters, had voted in Hartford, according to the city registrar of voters office. Final numbers were not available Tuesday.

Bronin received 476 absentee votes, while Cruz received 105, Cannon received 46 and Smith got 12, according to unofficial numbers.

Bronin raised at least $1.1 million in his first run for public office. He used that money to buy a flood of television and radio ads, though he has also attributed his success to his frequent door-knocking efforts.